“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.” ~Matthew 12:43-45aIn those verses, the evil spirits can get back into their former home because it is *vacant*.
When I fill myself with God--His spirit, His love, His thoughts--evil spirits cannot abide it. When I let that filling out--through praise, worship, prayer, service, or any active form of expression--that effect is powerfully amplified.
I have been subject to devils in the past because I accepted their dominion. I thought I was depressed, or just "feeling blue", or discouraged, or whatever. But I know better now. :) Now, if I can't find a solid reason for why I'm feeling blue, or overwhelmed, or grouchy, I can be sure it's a spiritual attack. I KNOW two things: my God does NOT want me to feel that way, and He has given me power over evil--otherwise this life wouldn't be a test, it would be a cruel trap. So I stand on the word of God, and refuse to be subject to demonic dominion. Sometimes that means I call on the name of Jesus. Sometimes I simply say, in that God-given authority, "I'm NOT doing this." Jesus has taught this to my heart, and I now stand on it. Peter walked, not upon the water, but upon the Word of God: "Come".
We have POWER in these situations. Don't just roll over and submit to it. Jesus already WON, and He fully and completely offers that victory to us, if we will but receive and walk in it.
Father God, I can't tell you how amazed, joyful, happy, and full of love I get when I stop to think about what You have done, and what Jesus did for me . . . for all of us. I just feel like I'm going to burst! (That's why worship is so wonderful to me: I can burst into song, and give tongue to some of the power that rises up in my soul when I think of all that I've been given, all that salvation means to me!) I'm so amazed at how Jesus would have gone through everything that He did, even if I was His only creation. And yet, He sacrificed and submitted and won for each of us as if we truly WERE His only creation. What He did was infinite--applicable to each and every one of us, without limit. His atoning sacrifice never "runs out". We are ALL His favorites, all Your favorites. I love having an infinitely loving God, because when you divide infinity, you get infinity. Endless love, no matter how you try to slice it. Thank You! Love You, God. In Jesus' name, amen!!!
